264 - 5 Steps to Get You Started with Scanning Today

264 - 5 Steps to Get You Started with Scanning Today

Author: Phil Lichtenberger January 10, 2023 Duration: 34:53

If you are looking to get started in the scanner radio hobby, I have 5 tips to help you get started today.

I also walk through common mistakes and this podcast will help you avoid making common beginner mistakes.

This podcast is also available in a shorter format on our YouTube Channel
🎥 https://youtu.be/l8RHrJ8z1Qg

 

Step 1 - Make a list of what it is you want to listen to
Be as detailed as possible and write down specifics to help you understand who it is you want to monitor

Step 2 - Set reasonable expectations on how far you want to monitor
Scanner reception is dependent on many factors.  Be prepared to monitor anywhere from down the block to across the county

Step 3 - Know the frequencies and trunk systems in your area
Use the database at Radio Reference in order to help you understand how you can monitor your local area

Step 4 - Understand your budget
New radios will range from $100 to over $600.  You may need to work within your budget to get started with the hobby.

Step 5 - Be prepared to ask and learn
There will be a lot to learn.  There are great resources online and on YouTube to help you understand the scanner radio hobby

Bonus - This is a hobby and you will learn and grow with it
Don't be discouraged.  Sticking with any hobby is rewarding and scanning is no exception.

 

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🛒  Check out our new Merch!
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Squelchy opened his own store selling Scanner School merchandise!

Show your love for the Scanner Radio Hobby and Scanner School.
Pick up a hat, shirt, bag, or mug and help support Scanner School.

🔗 https://scannerschool.myspreadshop.com/

 

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🎙 Join our new Scanner Radio Community
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Join our FREE Discord server and connect with other Scanner Radio Users!

By using Discord, a free, multi-platform community portal, you can now be part of the Scanner Radio Discussion!

Chat real time, share photos, ask questions, and give feedback to other's in chat.

🔗 https://www.scannerschool.com/discord


Ever wondered about the distant voices crackling over a police band or the chatter between air traffic controllers? Scanner School is for the curious. Hosted by Phil Lichtenberger, this exploration digs into the nuances of monitoring public safety and utility communications, transforming a technical hobby into a accessible and fascinating pastime. Rather than just listing equipment, episodes unpack the how and why-the stories behind the signals. You’ll hear practical advice on choosing a scanner, decoding technical jargon, and understanding radio protocols, all explained without assuming prior expertise. The discussion often extends to the ethics and laws surrounding the hobby, providing a thoughtful framework for listeners. Newcomers will find a clear path forward, while seasoned enthusiasts discover deeper layers to their interest. It’s a weekly dose of clarity and discovery, where specific listener questions shape the conversation, moving from basic concepts to more intricate details. Tune in to this podcast for a guided tour through a world of sound most people walk right past, and you might just find yourself listening to your surroundings in a completely new way.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Scanner School - Everything you wanted to know about the Scanner Radio Hobby
Podcast Episodes
283 - A Change is coming to CB Scanning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:45
🧢 Beaker Breaker 1 - 9 You need to make this change in your scanners if you monitor CB, Good Buddy! Here in the US, CB Radio has been primarily been AM or SSB. But there is a new modulation for CB, and it's FM! FM on CB…
282 - Satellite Monitoring [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:47
Did you know you can listen to the International Space Station or "Brazilian Pirates" from your backyard? With correct software, you can download weather images directly from satellites. Or, you may be able to receive Sl…
281 - Ham Radio Digital Voice Modes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:40
Amateur Radio Operators are very resourceful when it comes to surplus equipment. Did you know that there are P25, NXDN, and DMR amateur radio repeaters in most corners of the world? These repeaters are easily linked, all…
280 - Ask Scanner School v56 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:38
Every month I answer your questions on the podcast. If you have a question you would like me to answer, please leave me a voicemail at 516-308-2885 or by visiting www.scannerschool.com/ask Don't forget to join us on YouT…
279 - Hear More with Less [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:37
Did you ever get the feeling like you were missing transmissions on your scanner radio? Maybe you hear one half and then the scanner goes back in a scan mode and you never hear the rest of the conversation - leaving you…
278 - Special Temporary Authority [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:04
Did you ever wonder how large, short term, temporary events with many moving parts, details, and staff all communicate? Some examples of these events include the Professional Golf Association Tournaments, Live Broadcasts…
277 - Severe Weather Scanning Guide [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:24
From Pre-Planning, Live Weather Events , to Post Disaster Monitoring, this episode is full of hints and tips to scanning severe weather events. We've split this episode into two parts.: The first half covers who you migh…
276 - Ask Scanner School v55 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:12
Every month I answer your questions on the podcast. If you have a question you would like me to answer, please leave me a voicemail at 516-308-2885 or by visiting www.scannerschool.com/ask Don't forget to join us on YouT…
275 - Freescan Programming Software [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:44
Freescan is free programming software that supports the Uniden DMA family of scanners. This means that it will not work on Home Patrol scanners or older Uniden scanners with standard memory programming. Freescan software…
274 - Why you should look at a Yaesu VX-6R [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:56
The Yaesu VX-6R is a modern classic Ham Radio. So why should you use this as a scanner radio? It doesn't trunk. It doesn't do any digital modes. The alpha tags are limited to just 6 characters, and it's nearly 20 years o…